ASTON — The large mechanical device simulating an arm reached deep into a load of 400 Kleenex tissue boxes and lifted them out with finesse in the back of the service shop one recent morning.

“Anytime you see anything moving around like that, that’s exciting,” Edward G. Robson, president and founder of Production Systems Automation Inc., said as he stood by paper converting equipment similar to the shipment he sent to Korea two days earlier.

PSA was recognized by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., about six weeks ago for its upgrade and development of a core plug tool used to package paper towels and he’s planning to visit during the Congressional recess.

“We are in the process of a renaissance in American manufacturing, and no state is contributing more to that renaissance than Pennsylvania,” Toomey said. “Our world class workers are coupling with fine employers like PSA to lead the way in the use of cutting edge technologies like robotics to develop innovative products.”

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Fourteen years ago, PSA designed and built the six ton, 16 foot tall robot used for this purpose. On its end was a device called the core plug tool, which functions much like a hand.

“The original one was designed in Australia,” Robson said of that particular tool, “but it didn’t have the flexibility that the client needs for today’s manufacturing. They needed a new tool that would handle the new product. It’s like picking up a deck of cards from the side. How does a robot pick up a deck of cards that’s 3 feet long? It’s just not so easy.”

So PSA designed the new one, which inserts custom wheels into the ends of the paper towels so they fit into the manufacturer’s dispensers.

It’s all part of what they do.

“We solve problems for industry,” Robson said. “When a customer has a problem that’s unique with regard to factory automation, with regard to robotics, with a need for a new product that we can help them with that.”

That’s how he started 29 years ago when he left his engineering and project manager position at Scott Paper to start his own business.

“Our first client was an Italian machine builder,” Robson said. “We built all of their industrial computer systems, the brains of the machines.”

His company began by both designing and making these computer systems, which evolved into robotics.

Since then, it’s grown to 20 employees in three locations, one in Aston and two in Boothwyn, but problem-solving remains the core.

“We’re the ones that they call when no one can fix this equipment because of their expertise,” Robson said.

Cindy Beck, PSA’s national account manager, explained that a company she recently contacted had been having a problem with line harmonization in trying to get the various machines to work together.

“The CEO had four different companies try to troubleshoot a piece of equipment and no one could do it,” she said.

Robson continued, “For six months, they ran the machine at half speed. For six months, they tried to solve the problem. Then, they called us and in four days, we had it resolved.

“Once we got them up to 100 percent speed, they doubled their production,” he said.

Beck explained how PSA works, comparing it to the expertise needed when someone has a brain tumor.

“If you have something serious like that, you want a doctor with (that) skill level,” she said. “And that’s pretty much what PSA does. It’s the best of the best. It’s the brain surgeons of the industry.”

Robson said he and his employees enjoy the challenges their clients, many of whom are in the paper producing industry, want them to resolve.

“It’s a partnership between us and the manufacturer,” he said. “They come to us with difficult problems and we just love solving them.”